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Thursday, 20 October 2011

Shane Warne backs Lehmann for Cricket Australia’s top job

Legendary spinner Shane Warne believes that Darren Lehmann’s mix of people skills and appetite for cricket would make him a standout candidate to become Australia’s next chairman of selectors or coach.

Lehmann, who has not been headhunted by Cricket Australia, is content with his jobs coaching Queensland and Big Bash franchise Brisbane Heat at domestic level and has not applied for the national posts.

Speaking highly of the former Test and ODI batsman, Warne advised CA’s new cricket manager, Pat Howard, to make inquiries about Lehmann’s availability.

“I think Darren Lehmann is absolutely outstanding – as a coach or in some senior role involved in the team or as a selector. He understands the new age people; he’s got a great cricket brain. I would be approaching Darren Lehmann because I think he’s super,” Warne said.

He said Lehmann had the perfect blend of old and new to be a major off-field player in the modern game, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

“I think he’s got a really good understanding of the young guys, he’s got a great understanding of old school and what’s required to perform,” Warne said.

He said it was important to have people who “have that old-school toughness about them” involved in rebuilding Australian cricket.

“That hard work – get in the nets and train hard for two hours, forget the ice baths, physios, calories, stretching,” he added.

Warne also said that any of Geoff Lawson, Dean Jones, Tom Moody or Trevor Hohns would do a great job if they were given the nod to succeed Andrew Hilditch as selection chairman. (ANI)